NIS responds to Dr Mitchell

Dear Editor,

The Kaieteur News carried an article captioned `Former Senior Health Official peeved at non-support from NIS’ which was printed in the Saturday, October 11, 2014 edition.

The National Insurance Scheme noted the concerns raised therein and wishes to offer the following response.

  1. The claim made by Dr Mitchell was not paid by the National Insurance Board in accordance with NIS’ Benefit Regulations Section 21 (2) which states that “No Insured Person shall be entitled to sickness Benefit on or after attaining the age of Sixty (60) years.”
  2. Editor, it must be noted that during the 7th Actuarial Review the issue of reimbursing the cost for medical care beyond age 60 years was addressed and the Actuary stated the following in his report… “However, given the financial position of the fund and the relatively high pension that is paid, expanding Sickness Benefit Medical care provisions should not be considered at this time.”
  3. On the issue of Old Age Pension again, please be advised that pensions are calculated on two factors namely the number of contributions paid by an Insured Person and the value of those contributions in the best three years out of the last five years worked before attaining age 60 years.

There are instances where persons’ pensions, when calculated, fall below the minimum pension for that given year. In such instances, those pensions are adjusted to NIS’ minimum pension. This is a requirement by law.

Additionally, the minimum pensions are adjusted each time the Government announces an increase in the minimum wage.

The National Insurance Scheme does recognize Dr. Mitchell’s sterling contributions to the Scheme and the country and notes that he has also benefited from increases in the minimum pension over the years.

 

Yours faithfully,
Dianne Lewis-Baxter
Publicity & public relations officer
National Insurance Scheme – Guyana